We must say the Memphis class may have been some what small, but the quality of students–primer and refresher–was top notch. All the students picked up on what we try and teach from both the throwing and the betting techniques. It was easy to see Sunday afternoon how far they had advanced.

Arriving in the area, Rose and Doc met up with Goldfinger on Wed afternoon and headed to Tunica. None of us played craps that night as we were tired after a day of travel. We played a little BJ, some VP and cashed in some promotions from the casino and called it a night.

On Thursday morning we headed to the table first thing, but it was not open. We ate some breakfast and came back as they were opening their 14 foot table. Had a few nice rolls and then the pit went crazy, saying our throwing hand could not go over the "C & E" area on our side of the prop bets in the middle. You have to almost be at SL3 (or SR3) to not go over that line. Several different crews did this as well. We did not play there again. We all colored up and left. Headed to another casino and the table did not open until 10:00 AM. Finally found a good place to play with positions open. Pit Boss, Goldfinger, Rose and Doc in attendance. No monster rolls but several decent rolls. We were up a bit but not much. Time to head to Memphis and set up the tables and class room. Then we went to dinner for some of that famous Memphis BBQ. What a great meal. Got back to Tunica late so Rose and Doc went to bed.

For Rose and Doc not much happened Friday morning and it was back to Memphis for the GTC open house. While Dom and Finesse were giving tune ups, the other 7 instructors were greeting the students and alums from prior classes. Really great to see so many old and new friends. We worked with many of them and made a few minor corrections. We headed out to a great Memphis steak house. Now we were really full. Rose and Doc would stay Friday night and Saturday night in Memphis and not return to Tunica until Sunday late as we went for our last supper—another good super Memphis BBQ meal. For rose and Doc no casino time for the better part of 3 days,which was restful and we get to hit the casinos often, but we would miss Dom’s big roll. It is always disappointing to miss a big roll, but as we say in class, there is always a big roll going on some where across the country and we aren’t there.

All I heard was from Goldfinger (He may want to add some detail)—Dom had his great roll and he owned the table. His focus was fantastic. Nothing bothered him. I mean he OWNED the table for the better part of an hour. It was his. The complete story was listed in a prior post.

We did not return to our original casino for Sunday and Monday night, but stayed at one where they wanted our business. Sunday night we had a few decent rolls in the teens but way too many short rolls with too many horn numbers so were down a little for Sunday night but even for the trip. Called it a night.

Monday would be a great day. Goldfinger had not really been to several of the casinos so we went casino hopping. In several we went in, did not like the situation and left. Stopped at one that had a decent 12 footer and it got pretty hot—nothing of a monster roll but money makers. With Rose and Goldfinger at SR and Tommy C and Doc at SL, we all had back to back rolls in the 20’s and high teens. Some great money makers. Colored up and headed to lunch. Would continue to casino hop and have the usual ups and downs.

During the casino hopping we ran into an old friend–a man not involved with GTC any more, but a good friend. He and about 7 other guys from several states get together from time to time and Tunica was the agenda that week. They do all sorts of crazy stuff. They throw from all positions on the table. All of them are betting differently—some on the do and some on the don’t. They call their bets off, take them down, put them back up, and of course call them off. All of this and we never saw as much as a $1 bet for the dealers. They all do this charting stuff recording the numbers in different color ink. Evidently this tells them something but we have no idea what. Each one has a red pen and a black pen writing down the numbers rolled. Kind of a pain in the a**. No one ever smiled or acted like they were having a good time. None had a good roll that we saw. Goldfinger went up to one guy and asked him "what do you learn from charting the numbers?" The answer was rather crazy as he said " I don’t learn very much actually, I only count the number of rolls so I know when to call my bets off. I don’t want any long rolls as the longer the roll the nearer is the 7." NO SH** SHERLOCK. YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!! None of them were making come bets–only place and buy bets. Only the pass line bet when they were the shooter. They are missing out on the best bet on the table–not counting the odds bet.

Would run into them a little later and Doc rolled a couple of times with them. The man to my left asked if I was going to stay a while or was I going to hit and run. He bet against me with $25 on the Don’t Pass and I took him down twice!!! NICE!!! Don’t misunderstand me. we know a couple of them and they are nice men, they just bet crazy.

Seems to me that winning is the most fun–they aren’t. Rose and Doc look at craps as simply a game, only you keep score with money. Nothing is more fun that taking it to the casino.

Then Tuesday it was back to reality and time to get ready for Vegas. Hope to see many of you there.

Rose and Doc

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